Christian Unity

Dear Friends in Christ,

In this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus proclaims His gospel or good news that the Kingdom of God is at hand! May we hear this as if it were the first time and respond accordingly!

Centuries before the Incarnate Lord Jesus of Nazareth, there were other “gospels” around, for example in Greek and Roman cultures – announcements of the good news of victories and of kings and caesars. (Some proved to be far from good news!)

The good news of Jesus Christ is the triumph of Love over sin and death; it is a Kingdom not of this world. His Gospel summons us to repentance and to a new way of life. Jesus first preaches in Galilee of the Gentiles. Galilee was seen by many to be forsaken, a region of darkness. With repentant and hope-full hearts let us welcome Jesus into the Galilees of our lives. With expectant faith, may his Eucharistic presence enliven us to follow Him and make Him known and loved in all of the Galilees we enter this week.

Every year during the week of January 25 (the feast of the conversion of St. Paul), the Catholic Church throughout the world prays for Christian unity. Let us pray for this intention this week. Lord Jesus Christ, you show us how to be patient with one another in humility and gentleness. May the light you have shined on our path lead us towards unity and help us heal the wounds of division and indifference that often break communities apart. Prayer taken from Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

Registration is still open for our pastorate Lent study RESTORE. It is a five week journey for men and women to have a healing and fruitful Lent. There are many ways to gather and participate! Please see this page to register. Please contact pasadenawwp@gmail.com if you have any questions.

There will be two morning sessions to ready our hearts for this Lent program: February 7 at OLC and February 14 at SJF. Both at 10am-12pm. At this event, we will introduce and distribute the RESTORE book and show you how to access reflection videos online. Then we will have a time of prayer. Whether you participate in RESTORE or not, all are welcome to these mornings of prayer and preparation!

Our Lent mission will be held March 16-18 in the evening – 03/16 talk on Reconciliation, 03/17 confessions and adoration at OLC, 03/18 confessions and adoration at SJF. More information forthcoming! Thank you to all for your preparations for this Winter Relief week. Let us pray for and warmly welcome those we are serving!

God bless you and thank you for keeping the pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!

Fr. John 

Here Am I, Lord

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

This weekend, we return to Ordinary time with the celebration of the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. The theme for this weekend continues to build upon the baptism of the Lord that we celebrated last Sunday. The responsorial Psalm this weekend proclaims: “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.” Jesus comes to accomplish the will of the Father. As his brothers and sisters through baptism, we ought to have the same desire with our lives – to do the will of God. Although we are not always successful at it, we are nevertheless encouraged to continue trying to surrender our wills to the will of God. Never give up or lose hope that you can do the Father’s will, for we know all things are possible for one who has faith.

The 2026 Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries has kicked off! The theme for this year’s appeal is “Lift Up Your Hearts.” This theme calls us to “Lift Up Our Hearts to God, Unite in Hope as a faith community, and embrace our shared mission of Service.” Many of you should have received information about the Appeal in the mail. At the parishes, next weekend is our Announcement Weekend and the weekend of January 31–February 1 will be the Weekend of Giving. Our 2026 parish goals are as follows: St. Jane Frances $61,040; and OLC $62,618. I ask you to prayerfully consider your gift to the Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries with open hearts and generous hands. Thanks.

Shelter Week is rapidly approaching. We will be hosting our guests the week of January 26–February 2 at OLC. We are still in need of volunteers to assist us throughout the week. Shelter Week information and volunteer sign ups can be found on our parishes’ websites. When you have the opportunity, please sign up to help us live out the corporal works of mercy.

This year, our Pastorate is sponsoring a seven-week group study for men and women (and couples) during the Lenten Season. Using Sr. Miriam James Heidland’s new book Restore: A Guided Journal for Prayer and Meditation and its accompanying videos, join fellow parishioners in a group study that will help you turn away from what wounds you and toward God who heals and makes you whole. Two of the weeks are completed individually; the other five weeks in a small group: in-person at one of our churches; in-person at a sponsor-home; or virtually. Additional information can be found on our websites. If you are interested in hosting a small group of your friends in your home, please email PasadenaWWP@gmail.com. Follow the Lord into the depths of your heart this Lent and you will never be the same! Sign up today!

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve

Say Yes To Invitations!

From the Associate Pastor’s Desk…

Dear Friends in Christ!

This Sunday the Church celebrates another epiphany (manifestation/appearance) with the baptism of Jesus. The Dicastery for Clergy and Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) speak of this epiphany in this way:

“The same Spirit that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. ‘Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners.’”

Monday, January 12, we commence the season of Ordinary Time. Back to green! Ordinary Time puts us back on our day to day walk towards Heaven. Jesus leads us and walks with us. The “task of the whole of our earthly existence is to bring about what baptism inaugurates,” Blessed Columba Marmion (1858–1923) says. We do this by saying “yes” to God who is always inviting us to deeper friendship—union—with Him through daily prayer, the sacraments, and concrete acts of Christ-like love and witness in our pastorate, communities, and workplaces. Say yes to the invitations!! A couple invitations are as follows!

All are encouraged to participate in Shelter Week/Winter Relief at Our Lady of the Chesapeake from January 26 to February 2. There are many ways to help. Please see the advertisement in the bulletin and sign up!

Throughout the season of Lent (which starts February 18), leaders of the Walking With Purpose are sponsoring a Lenten study entitled RESTORE. It will be available to the whole pastorate—women and men. There will be many ways to participate in this study: in person at the parishes, at host-homes, and virtually. Please see the bulletin, websites, and tables after Masses in the coming weeks for opportunities to sign-up. You won’t want to miss out on this great opportunity to spend time with other parishioners, growing in faith, friendship, and mission.

God bless you and thank you for keeping the Pastorate of the Visitation in your daily prayers!

Fr. John

Epiphanies

Dear Friends of our Pastorate of the Visitation,

On behalf of all of us at our Pastorate, I would like to wish you and your families a very blessed and joyous New Year!

This weekend, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Today’s feast day recalls the manifestation of Jesus as the king and savior of the world. There are actually three epiphanies identified in scripture: today’s feast which celebrates the magi coming to pay homage to Jesus, the baptism of the Lord, and the wedding feast at Cana. Our Gospel today tells us the story of the Magi who come from the east by following the star. They arrive in Bethlehem to offer their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts reveal who Jesus is. He is our king (gold). He is our God (frankincense). He will suffer and die for our sins (myrrh). We too are called to participate in a journey, not unlike the Magi, to follow the Lord by the witness of our lives. When we follow the light of Christ, it will always lead us home.

Fr. John and I would like to thank everyone for your generous gis, cards, baked goods, and good wishes during the Christmas season. We are humbled by your outpouring of kindness to us and prayers for us. May the Lord bless you and your families in this New Year. Thank you also for your generous gifts and donations to our parishes. They are very much appreciated.

Our Pastorate is gearing up for Shelter Week this month. We will be hosng our guests the week of January 26 – February 2 at OLC. If it hasn’t already been published, we will be sending out our sign up request for volunteers as well as supplies for the week. When you have the opportunity, please sign up to help us in the corporal work of mercy.

Please pray for our youth who will be celebrating their First Reconciliations this week. We will be hosting two sessions: January 6th at SJF and January 10th at OLC. They are always nervous when going to confession for the first me, so I know your prayers for them would be appreciated.

Thank you for keeping our Pastorate of the Visitation—St. Jane Frances de Chantal and Our Lady of the Chesapeake—in your daily prayers!

God Bless,
Father Steve